Call to Courage

The following signatories call upon the City Council of Greenville, South Carolina, to denounce religion-based bigotry and to oppose by resolution the use of religion to justify social and legal discrimination against Greenville\'s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens.
Today in the United States, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens are victims of religious teachings based on ignorance and fear that are used to deny them full and equal rights and protections under civil law. Religion-based bigotry creates a social environment hostile to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens which incites physical violence against them.
The misuse of religion to deny lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender citizens full and equal civil rights has historical precedents, including the use of religion to justify slavery, denying women equality, racial inequality and segregation, and the persecution of religious minorities. The misuse of religion in these historical precedents of oppression, discrimination and violence is recognized today by Americans as misguided, wrong and evil.
We submit that the use of religion to do legal and social harm to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens is no less misguided, wrong and evil.
Therefore, we call upon the City Council of Greenville, South Carolina, to denounce religion-based bigotry and by resolution oppose the use of religion to justify social and legal discrimination against Greenville\'s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens in all official matters that come before it for action.
Furthermore, we resolve to work for the end to all expressions of religion-based bigotry in our community and to oppose all legal and social discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens.
By signing this petition I confirm my residence as being within Greenville, South Carolina city limits.